Presents
Michael Gotthard Fischer
Piano Quartet in F Major, Op.6
Michael Gotthard Fischer (1773-1829) was born in the German town of Alach, located just outside of the city of Erfurt. He studied organ with Johann Christian Kittel, who had been a student of Johann Sebastian Bach. As a composer, he concentrated on writing instrumental music until about 1810, producing concertos, string quartets, a string quintet and a piano quartet among other works. These received favorable reviews upon their publication. Based on these compositions and his skill at the organ, he was appointed Music Director of the city of Erfurt and succeeded Kittel as organist at the most important churches of the Barony. After 1810, Fischer concentrated on vocal and organ compositions and stopped writing instrumental music. While his organ works gained him a measure of fame, his instrumental music it was soon forgotten despite have been praised, largely because he stopped writing instrumental music. Only recently, with the discovery of his stellar arrangement of Beethoven's Pastoral Symphony for String Sextet, is his instrumental music being rediscovered.
The Piano Quartet was very popular for many years, especially during the last part of the 19th century when piano quartets were more often performed in concert than they are today. However, at the time Fischer composed his Piano Quartet in F major back in 1803, the genre had not yet established itself. (that only came decades later with Mendelssohn and Schumann) Only Mozart's piano quartets would have been published and it is unlikely that Fischer would have been familiar with them. Hence, it could be said that Fischer was one of the pioneers with regard to the genre of the piano quartet. He dedicated the work to the Queen of Prussia, an indication of the importance he put upon it and no doubt his hopes for further recognition. The opening movement begins with a Largo introduction that leads to the main section, a lively and appealing Allegro (our soundbite starts here) which sounds very much like Beethoven's Op.1 piano trios, works with which he most likely was familiar. The middle movement is a delicate and charming Poco adagio. The finale, a bouncing Rondo allegro in 6/8, again recalls early Beethoven.
This is a work with much to recommend it. Filled with appealing melodies, it is historically important as it was one of the very first piano quartets published and it is not difficult to play. We have reprinted the original and only edition which, though perfectly readable, at 220 years of age can in no way be compared with modern editions. As a result, we offer it at a discount beyond our usual low price for such works.
Parts: $24.95
